Global container carrier Maersk Line is to turn its TP12 service into a standalone, round the world service that can deliver containers from Far East Asia to the US East Coast much more quickly. It will now head direct from the Far East to the newly widened and deepened Panama Canal, and call in at Newark, Norfolk and Baltimore.

In addition, heading east to China the TP12 service will head through the Suez Canal and call in at Salalah in Oman, Colombo in Sri Lanka and then to Singapore. The newly altered route will significantly improve Maersk Line’s offering to shippers that are on the Far East Asia and US East Coast trade routes.

Klaus Rud Sijling, Head of East – West Network of Maersk Line said, “We are changing our TP12 service to provide a better product to shippers in Korea, Northern and Eastern China. By transiting the expanded Panama Canal, we will significantly reduce transit times into key ports on the US East Coast.

“At the same time, we will reduce our CO2 and exhaust gas emissions due to the shorter distance.”

The container line is also improving a number of other services. The westbound TP10 service is to add in Busan in South Korea, improving transit times from Charleston and Savannah on the US East Coast to Busan as well as North China.

In addition, Maersk Line will connect its TP11 and TP8 services to form a pendulum service that expands the coverage of both services. The TP18 service will remain unchanged.

There will be no changes to the capacity in Maersk Line’s Asia – US East Coast network. Maersk Line will deploy 11 vessels of 8,500 TEU in the new TP12 service and 17 vessels of 8,500 TEU in the new TP11/TP8 pendulum service.

These changes will come into effect from September this year.